The venue’s new Environmental Sustainability Plan is aiming to reduce the total energy use of the building by 20%, by 2030 and is aiming to achieve a 5 star green rating.

The Opera House has also set a number of short-term goals such as reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 7% and energy use by 15%, by 2019.

Achievements Since 2010

Since 2010 the Opera House has reduced its electricity use by 7%, saving an average of $1 million in electricity costs.

The Opera House has also increased its recycling rates from 20% in 2010 to 65% in 2016, through recycling most types of operational waste and programs targeting reduction in the use of materials such as paper and plastic.

Along with this, the venue has held four of its annual ‘Vivid Life’ performing arts festival events to a ‘carbon neutral’ standard, whilst introducing food recycling for charities and receiving a number of rewards for sustainability.

The aim for 2016 is to increase the venue’s recycling to 85% of its operational waste.

The Four-Star Green Award

The Green Star rating system assesses the sustainability of projects at each stage of the building’s lifecycle. The system rates buildings against a range of environmental categories and aims to encourage leadership in environmentally sustainable design, construction and showcase.

Last year (2015) the Opera House received a four-star Green Award rating from the Green Building Council of Australia and now aims to achieve a five-star award by 2023, in time for its 50th anniversary.

This achievement has encouraged people to rethink the way they do things, and how they can make their actions more sustainable.

Climate Change

Scientists have stated that the Opera House is at risk from rising sea levels as a result of climate change. Therefore, the Sydney Opera House is aiming to develop a climate change resilience strategy in order to address the long term impacts of climate change. A sustainable transport plan has also been created to encourage staff to steer away from single passenger car transport.

The strategy is also aiming to set out an 80% construction waste recycling target for its upgrade over the next decade, and plans to review is water use targets.